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SuperGuy

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'SuperGuy' by Kurt Clopton follows the story of Oliver, a 29-year-old balding intern for the City of Milwaukee, who accidentally acquires superpowers and becomes a superhero. The book humorously navigates Oliver's journey as he faces off against political schemers, bumbling bureaucrats, supervillains, and ridiculous costumes. Through a blend of wit and humor, the story satirizes common superhero tropes while bringing a realistic touch to the concept of superheroes in the real world.

The book cleverly mixes real-world practicality with the tale of a nerd turned superhero, providing a fresh take on the classic superhero story. It explores themes of government incompetence, humorous human interactions, and the age-old question of what if superheroes were real, all while maintaining a light-hearted and entertaining narrative.

Characters:

The characters are unique, including a relatable protagonist surrounded by humorous and absurd supporting characters, highlighting the flaws in a bureaucratic system.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by wit and humor, with a playful and engaging tone that satirizes superhero conventions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an ordinary man, Oliver, who unexpectedly gains superpowers and navigates the challenges posed by bureaucratic inefficiencies and supervillains.

Setting:

The setting is in Milwaukee, with a backdrop that features a government agency and a sinister cereal factory.

Pacing:

The pacing is consistent, maintaining humor throughout and ensuring a smooth reading experience.

Notes:

Kurt Clopton is a former Iowan now living in Wisconsin.
SuperGuy features an average guy, Oliver, who becomes an unlikely superhero.
The story has a humorous tone, comparing it to Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's series.
The superhero operates without secret identities as they are government jobs.
It satirizes bureaucratic absurdities alongside superhero tropes.
The main villain is connected to a 'Cereal Factory of Evil'.
Oliver starts in a precarious situation, suspended over acid in the first chapter.
The narrative includes a blend of superhero action and office satire.
The character interactions maintain internal logic while being humorous.
The romance subplot is portrayed positively, with mutual respect between characters.
The book is described as a mix of Pixar's The Incredibles and a toned-down Deadpool.
Clopton's unique approach to the superhero genre is likened to a deconstruction of common superhero myths.
The series is published by an indie press and emphasizes comedy and absurdity.
Readers have expressed their hope for a sequel due to the enjoyment of the first book.

Has Romance?

The romance in SuperGuy is present but not a dominant plot point; it serves more as a subplot that adds depth to the characters.

From The Publisher:

Superheroes are common in Oliver's world. He doesn't pay them much attention since he's just trying to survive his city government internship and the latest useless-but time-sensitive-project that's been dropped on him. Then he mistakenly takes the super serum the Milwaukee mayor wrote into the budget to help his slumping re-election campaign. Now Oliver is dealing with an annoyed police chief, a surging crime wave, paparazzi, a super villain, a bit of romance, and the creepy ladies of the Milwaukee Flower and Garden Society. You expect the super villains to be trouble, but you never expect the bigger problem to be getting your city-issued car replaced after you've reduced it to a burning hunk of metal your first day on the job. If Oliver can survive the endless on-the-job training sessions, the awkwardness of the extremely generic but very tight suit, and getting thrown through the occasional wall or two, he might just have time to stop the bad guy from enslaving the world. No biggie.

Reader Stats (2):

Want To Read (1)
Not Interested (1)
 
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